SPA Imaging beads are microspheres containing scintillant which emit light in the red region of the visible spectrum. As a result, these beads are ideally suited to use with a CCD imager, such as PerkinElmer's Viewlux™ CCD Imager.

Two types of core SPA Imaging bead are available - yttrium oxide (YOx) and Polystyrene (PS). A number of biological coatings also exist for each core bead type to enable receptor binding, enzyme, molecular interaction and radioimmunoassays to be investigated.

Scintillation proximity assay (SPA) is a homogeneous and versatile technology for the rapid and sensitive assay of a wide range of biological processes, including applications using enzyme and receptor targets, radioimmunoassays, and molecular interactions. When 3H, 14C, 33P, and 125I radioisotopes decay, they release β-particles (or Auger electrons, in the case of 125I). The distance these particles travel through an aqueous solution is dependent on the energy of the particle. If a radioactive molecule is held in close enough proximity to a SPA Scintillation Bead or a SPA Imaging Bead, the decay particles stimulate the scintillant within the bead to emit light, which is then detected in a PMT-based scintillation counter or on a CCD-based imager, respectively. However, if the radioactive molecule does not associate with the SPA bead, the decay particles will not have sufficient energy to reach the bead and no light will be emitted. This discrimination of binding by proximity means that no physical separation of bound and free radiochemical is required.

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